Summary

Caused by chronic heavy alcohol ingestion. About 40 to 80 g/day in men and 20 to 40 g/day in women for 10 to 12 years is sufficient to cause liver damage in the absence of other liver diseases.

Clinical presentations are highly variable. There is no specific laboratory test to identify alcohol as a cause of liver damage. Liver biopsy, in the context of a history of alcohol abuse, is diagnostic but is not absolutely indicated in all patients.

Alcohol abstinence is the first line of treatment, with periodic liver enzyme tests to monitor ongoing liver damage. Abstinence is also the key to prevention of alcoholic liver diseases.

Disclosures

LM is on the speaker bureau for Salix (maker of Rifaximin - Xifaxan); Rifaximin is part of the therapy (supported by practice guidelines) of hepatic encephalopathy. He is also on the speaker bureau of Grifols (one of the makers of albumin for IV infusion); albumin is used as part of the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (supported by practice guidelines).

Disclosures

NS has received research grants from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust, British Liver Trust, Alcohol Education Research Council, and various other funding bodies. He has undertaken paid consultancy work and received travelling expenses from pharmaceutical companies developing drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease. He has been paid for medico-legal work in the areas of hepatitis C and alcohol-related liver disease. The following memberships and advisory work are unpaid apart from travelling expenses: EU Alcohol Forum, EU Alcohol Marketing Taskforce, Royal College of Physicians Alcohol Committee, Alcohol Health Alliance UK. NS has undertaken advisory and media work for the UK Department of Health, Home Office, Department of Transport, Cross Cabinet Strategy Committee, NICE, Southampton City Council, UK Police, British Liver Trust, various other NGOs, local government, and other bodies. NS is an unpaid trustee of the Drinkaware Trust, an independent body set up by the UK Government to use industry resources to reduce alcohol-related harm. The Trust is funded entirely by the alcohol industry, with a board of trustees comprising 5 industry members, 5 members with alcohol-related health expertise, and 3 lay members.